Philadelphia Eagles Position Breakdown: Quarterback

Throughout the OTA and minicamp periods of the Philadelphia Eagles‘ offseason training program, the analytical eye of the media was undoubtedly fixated on the developing quarterback competition. Given the nature of these practices, however, there was only so much to glean and copious amounts of questions were met with few, if any, definitive answers.

But in just a little over 5 weeks, players will trade shorts and T-shirts for shells, and the answers we seek will come into much clearer focus. Unfortunately, in the mean time, we have only conjecture and a few bread crumbs to follow in hopes of projecting how such an integral position battle might play out.

On paper, it’s apparent who the top 2 contenders for the coveted starting job are: Sam Bradford and Mark Sanchez (in that order). When considering skill level, and the degree to which the organization has invested itself in Sanchez, and, particularly, Bradford, it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out the pecking order. However, this battle will likely come down to a lot more than simple skill and investment.

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On March 10th, Chip Kelly shipped Nick Foles, a 2015 2nd rounder, and swapped mid-round 2015 picks — among other things — for former #1 overall pick, Sam Bradford. After the initial shock wore off, the first question that echoed throughout the fan base and media alike was simple; Is Sam Bradford a good NFL Quarterback? Having played for the lowly Rams in the NFC West for the entirety of his career, Bradford was not a player that Eagles’ fans were all too familiar with. A quick google search will tell you that the St. Louis Rams did not achieve very much during the Sam Bradford era, however, this is not wholly representative of Bradford’s ability as an NFL passer. A litany of outside factors have mitigated Bradford’s growth and productivity. Everything from turnover in the coaching staff, on the offensive line, in the receiving corp, and defensive woes, created a less than ideal environment for a growing prospect.

Regardless of external factors, Bradford demonstrates many of the mental and physical traits that are indicative of a franchise quarterback. As I previously outlined, Bradford’s consistency in his mechanics, body awareness, etc., make him a very very good fit for Chip Kelly’s offense. Simply put, from a pure ability standpoint, this is Bradford’s job to lose. Unfortunately, things aren’t that simple.

Bradford’s recovery from his latest ACL injury continue to cloud his future, so winning the starting gig from the jump is far from certain. Bradford will have to prove that he is capable of replicating the mechanical and fundamental strengths that he displayed during his time in St. Louis, post injury. Beyond that, his recent arrival in Philly puts him behind the eight-ball in regards to mastery of the playbook. In this department, Mark Sanchez will have the clear advantage for the foreseeable future.

In other words, while Bradford struggles to play catch-up and learn the X’s and O’s, Sanchez will be working to improve within the offense and polish the finer points of his game, having a full year of practice and a half season’s worth of starts under his belt — a luxury that Bradford is not afforded. Recently, while discussing Tim Tebow‘s progress, Chip himself acknowledged the challenge in being a 1st year QB in his system, however, while Bradford has been much sharper than Tebow to this point, the same concept still applies.

That being said, Bradford is an exceptionally hard worker and seems to be incredibly motivated to seize the opportunity. So while his inexperience is undoubtedly a detriment to his efforts, his preparation should ensure that his being behind isn’t overly damaging to his odds.

For all of the criticism that Mark Sanchez receives, he serves a valuable role for the team. Back in 2013 when Michael Vick and Nick Foles duked it out for the starting job, Chip Kelly was quick to note the importance of having two capable Quarterbacks on the roster, stating that the backup is “only a chinstrap away.” Through the first 2 years of Kelly’s tenure this philosophy has rung true. In both seasons, the week 1 reserve has seen significant snaps at some point during the year; first in Foles’ relief of Vick in 2013, and then again in Sanchez’s relief of Foles this past season. In 2015, Sanchez may yet again be given the opportunity to assume this role, and there’s reason to believe that he can do enough when called upon to keep the team competitive. That being said, Sanchez is obviously not someone who is going put the Eagles over the hump and make them a legitimate contender, so the team will live and die by the play of Sam Bradford.

All things considered, I would assume that Bradford is still firmly in the lead for the starting gig. The organization is obviously high on his ability, and want him to put in the necessary work and seize the job sooner rather than later. If all goes according to plan, Bradford will start week 1 in Atlanta, and Sanchez will be waiting in the wings should his number be called. In terms of pure play, the reports that came out of Eagles’ OTAs and minicamp bode well for Bradford positioning himself to take control, as he has impressed with his placement and velocity. In addition, according to Bradford, he is in fact on pace to be ready to compete 11-on-11s when camp opens August 2nd. Considering that Bradford winning the job is largely contingent on his health, this is an encouraging sign. While a lot can change between now and September, I expect Bradford to take that first drop-back in Atlanta.

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While the progress of Sam Bradford and his quest for week 1 has stolen the majority of headlines, a much less heralded competition is also taking place at the Eagles’ QB position: The battle between Matt Barkley and Tim Tebow for the third and final spot on the roster. Although we have been given little inclination as to who will ultimately win the job, early returns suggest that Barkley is in fact in the lead (for what it’s worth). And it seems that this observation is more of an indictment of Tebow, than it is an endorsement for Barkley — although the latter does appear to be fairing better than in previous years.

It seems as though the offseason program has seen more of the same from Tim Tebow, thus far; flawed mechanics, a long delivery, and a penchant for holding the football. On the heels of the change of the extra point regulations, it appeared as though Tebow’s roster odds were given a boost. After all, the idea of rostering a QB who brings added appeal in way of a versatile piece does seem very Chip-ian, however, Tebow must be, first and foremost, a capable QB, and it seems as though early indications are not inspiring.

That being said, it is extremely early, and Tebow will be given the opportunity to pry a job away from Matt Barkley in training camp (even if Barkley thinks there isn’t a competition).

Regardless of the outcome, this summer is sure to be one of the most exciting in recent memory for Eagles’ fans. The allure of an unlikely hero in Sam Bradford, and of course, “Tebowmania”, will make sure of that.

Next: Ryan Mathews May Prove To Be An Underrated Signing

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